Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 04-06-03

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] THE ANNAN PLAN IS STILL ALIVE

[02] KARAMANLIS: THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LASTING

[03] OLYMPIC GAMES WITHOUT STRIKES

[04] LUCIANO PAVAROTTI IN THESSALONIKI

[05] THE GOVERNMENT DENIED PRESS REPORT ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] VOULGARAKIS: NO REQUEST FOR A FOREIGN ARMED FORCE IN GREECE

[08] THE OLYMPIC FLAME IS ON ITS WAY TO AUSTRALIA

[01] THE ANNAN PLAN IS STILL ALIVE

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who proposed yesterday that the UN force mandate in Cyprus must be extended characterizing it as necessary, expressed the view that his plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem is not dead.

Cypriot Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos characterized as groundless Mr. Annan's speculation that the Cypriot people decision to reject the plan constitutes a rejection of a solution.

Mr. Papadopoulos stated from Boston yesterday, after completing his two-day visit to the University of Harvard, that based on an initial reading of the Annan report he concluded that it includes a number of inaccuracies regarding the events and added that he disagrees with the view expressed by the UN Secretary General regarding the way the talks were held, the procedure that was followed and the assessment he makes on the positions of the two sides on the island.

Mr. Papadopoulos will meet today with Mr. Annan in New York. The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the Cyprus issue on June 8.

[02] KARAMANLIS: THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LASTING INVESTMENT

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis stated in his speech in the 12th assembly meeting of the Greek Association of Tourist Businesses that the Olympic Games offer to Greece a historic opportunity and a unique challenge, while it is a unique opportunity for a lasting and long-term investment.

The goal for the day after is clear, the Greek people will be the winners and among the big winners will be the Greek tourist industry, stated Mr. Karamanlis pointing out, however, that the pre-Olympic Games period was not exploited in the best possible way.

Tourism was, and still is, one of the most important activities in Greece as it corresponds to 18% of the GDP, stated the Prime Minister, who outlined his government's policy for the creation of a new tourist identity that will ensure the uniqueness of the Greek tourist destinations and make Greece's tourist product identifiable internationally.

He said that the main target is to create a developmentally fertile environment, strengthen infrastructure, offer education and vocational training, adopt a communication strategy and undertake promotion activities.

[03] OLYMPIC GAMES WITHOUT STRIKES

There is no issue of any strike mobilization during the Olympic Games in Athens, stated Minister of Labor Panos Panagiotopoulos speaking to the Greek service of the Voice of America from Luxembourg in response to a comment on a newspaper that problems will be created in Greece by groups of workers, who will take advantage of the crucial period to settle their working demands as the Greek government will have no other option than to meet those demands.

The Minister of Labor stated that a two-year National General Collective Wage Agreement has been signed providing for considerable increases for the low wage earners to ensure peace among the workers.

Mr. Panagiotopoulos participated in the EU Council of Labor and Social Protection Ministers and called on the EU to continue financing the efforts against unemployment.

[04] LUCIANO PAVAROTTI IN THESSALONIKI

After a career of 40 years in opera he still feels ready to meet any challenge. For the past 25 years he is actively involved in an effort to bring opera closer to all people regardless of social class but the dream of his life as a human being is to be able to offer something good to his fellow human beings and especially, to the children who are in need.

World-famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti thanked the people of Thessaloniki for the reception they gave him in a press conference today. He will give an open-air concert at the Theater Gis on June 5 and the revenues from the ticket sales will be offered to the Storgi Association of Friends of Cancer-suffering Children.

It is his first time ever in Thessaloniki and the concert will be given within the framework of his farewell international tour Pavarotti: Farewell World Tour which was launched in Athens. He stated that he intends to end his long career in 2005 adding, however, that he will need a lot of energy in the years to come that will be dedicated to teaching music and bringing up his baby daughter.

[05] THE GOVERNMENT DENIED PRESS REPORT ON THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The Greek government categorically denied information according to which, it allegedly undertook the commitment toward the US to allow the free movement of armed Americans during the Olympic Games in Athens.

Government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos made the statement today within the framework of the regular press briefing.

[06] GAINS IN THE ASE

Gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +0.60% at 2415.9 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 134.2 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 125 had gains and 172 had losses, while the value of 88 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] VOULGARAKIS: NO REQUEST FOR A FOREIGN ARMED FORCE IN GREECE

Minister of Public Order Giorgos Voulgarakis reiterated today, responding to a question by a reporter, that no request was made concerning the presence of a foreign armed force in Greece to be used for the protection of sports missions during the Athens Olympic Games.

Mr. Voulgarakis stated that he is forced to reiterate one more time that no such issue was raised. He said that such inaccuracies and rumors do not serve the national effort especially in a period when the Olympic Security planning has been completed and its implementation gets underway.

[08] THE OLYMPIC FLAME IS ON ITS WAY TO AUSTRALIA

The Olympic Flame is on its way to Australia. It left Athens around 1am early Thursday and it is on its way to the first part of its unprecedented trip to the five continents and 27 countries around the world before returning to Greece for the Athens Olympic Games to light the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium on August 13 and signal the opening of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.

The Olympic Flame left on board the specially modified aircraft Zeus for Sydney, Australia the host city of the 2000 Olympic Games. The flame was lit on March 25 in ancient Olympia where the Games were born 3,000 years ago.

Its journey will last 35 days and will cover 75,300 kilometers. For the first time, the Olympic Flame will visit Latin America and Africa.

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